BUENA VISTA TOWNSHIP, MI — Volunteers gathered under the pavilion of the Buena Vista Lions Park on the morning of Friday, Aug. 8, to begin the first day of a Habitat for Humanity effort to revamp homes in the Buena Vista community.

A total of 14 homes are the focus of the work. They are located on South 24th, 26th and 27th streets, Westbrook, Holland, Bertha, Melrose, Elmers, Arlington and Hess Road.

Approximately 100 volunteers were expected to participate Friday.

This is Habitat for Humanity's second year working in Buena Vista and the group has collectively revitalized 41 homes in the area.

The organization is seeking additional volunteers to help with exterior work such as painting from Saturday, Aug. 9, through Wednesday, Aug. 13, except Sunday.

Volunteers are to meet at the Buena Vista Lions Park, 1940 S. Outer Drive, at 7:30 a.m. under the pavilion to register and participate in an orientation before being assigned an area. Hours are 8 a.m. to noon. A second orientation takes place at 12:30 p.m. with further efforts continuing from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Cameron Brady, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Saginaw, was present Friday with a small group including members of the Saginaw Community Foundation and the Hispanic Leadership Institute, at the home of Joseph McKnight on South Outer Drive.

"There's people who need help, there's people who are willing to help and we try to match them up as many of them as possible," Brady said.

McKnight, 33, has lived in Buena Vista all of his life and moved to his recent residence in September 2007. He said seeing volunteers lending a help hand to beautify his home was an "awesome feeling" and shows that there are people who care about giving back to Saginaw.

"When you do a good deed, you get one in return," McKnight said with a smile. "So this right here is an example that there are still good programs and people out in Saginaw that actually do good deeds from their hearts."

Dwayne Parker, supervisor of Buena Vista Charter Township, worked with fellow volunteers to scrape the siding and repaint the residence on Holland Road. He said he hopes to partner with Habitat for years to come.

"It's my pleasure to volunteer. This a worthy cause and the organization is top shelf and they're making an impact in the community I serve. I wouldn't miss it for the world," Parker said. "Today is a good day."

Resident Cheryl Merrill watched as workers removed mounds of shrubs and trees that were overgrown on her home on Holland Road. Merrill said to have the trees professionally removed would've been expensive and she is grateful to the volunteers.

"They work very hard and I really appreciate it because there's was no way I would be able to do this by myself," Merrill said. "It almost makes me want to cry. You can get emotional to see that people really care about other people."

Nexteer Automotive employees such as Sarah Thompson were among many volunteers working in the community. She was repainting a home on South 27th with fellow co-workers.

"It's always good to get out the office and into the community," Thompson said.